Improvement in nut-locks



UNITED STATES CHARLES It. WATROUS, OF MY'STIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF.

AND JABES WATROUS, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN NUT-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,113, dated December 30, 1873; application filed i April 29,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

` many other situations.

It is cheap in construction, and may bc applied very reliably with little skill or labor.

The nut is prepared with special reference to this invention. The iish-plate or the adjacent surface against which the nut bears requires no preparation. The nut is screwed up in the ordinary way, and is firmly locked by the ap. `plication of my device in any position where it may chance to stop. l The following is a description of what I consider `the best means of carrying out the invention as applied to the shjoint of a railroad-track.

The accompany-in g drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a cross-section, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, showing the parts in use. Fig. 3 is a view of the lower face of the nut alone.

`Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the iigures.

A represents the rail, and B B the shplates of a fish-joint, of a plain construction.

C is an ordinary bolt, and D is a stout nut threaded thereon in the ordinary manner. The

head C of the bolt is formed in the usual manner, and bears against one of the fish-plates, as usual. The nut D is formed with grooves across its bearing-surface, as indicated by ol d. One such groove may suiice, but I prefer several, as represented.

When the nut is screwed up tightly against the surface of the adjacent ish-plate, so as to hold the joint firmly, a key, an, of cast-steel, of a slightly-taperin g form and hardened a little,

.or not at all, is drivenl in one of the grooves or channels d, and its opposite face or corner pressesforcibly against and cuts slightly into the sh-plate. Thus situated it holds the nut `firmly against being shaken loose.

I prefer to make the grooves d of a V-shapetl section, as represented, and to make the key of a quadrangular section; but I esteem neither` of these points absolutely essential to success. The form of the key m, and consequently `of the groove d, may be varied considerably. Y

It may be preferable, for some reasons, to slightly tooth the surface or edge of the key m, which cuts into the surface of the sh-plate, but I do not esteem it sufficiently important to warrant the expense. My experiments go to show that the device is perfectly successful without teething. There is anobvious advantage in turning a key, and using it several times, presenting a sharp and previously-unused edge or corner downward at each successive use.

It may be preferable, under some conditions, i

to produce the grooves d in the fish-plate, and to allow the key m to eut slight grooves each time in the adjacent face of the nut. In the cases where it may be necessary my device may be also applied under the head of a bolt to prevent the entire bolt from turning.

The key m may be removed by driving it backward with a proper set. I indthat the spring of the metal is such that the key, ala

though tapering, is not released until it has 1 been driven nearly out.

One advantage of having several keyways or grooves,d, is that there may be two or more keys driven to hold a single nut, if preferred. `An advantage, when only a single key is used, is that it affords a choice, so that the key may -be driven in the position which is most easily accessible. l

`It will sometimes happen that a nut, after being taken orf and put on again n1 repairing the track, comes very nearly but `not exactly in its old position. In such case a key driven near the former groove d might become loos ened afterward by slipping into the old groove. Sometimes a subsequent tightening of nuts on a. joint may result in so slight a change of po= sition of the nut that the key would fail to hold it in the new position by its tendency to run into the old groove. In all such eases a change of the key into another of the grooves d will obviate all difficulty.`

It is important that the key m be not highly tempered, as it is liable to break. I have used with success slightly-tapered pieces ofcast-steel,

hardened no more than results from the ordinary rapid cooling in the open air. My experiments have mostly been with bars of steel just as they are found in trade, the taper being produced by iilino. I propose to produce them in the large way by rolling in properlyprepared rollers, in the manner long practiced in producing awls and sewing-machine needles.

I will mention one form of a key, m, which, with the corresponding form of the keyway or channel, may be used with success. It will require a different mode of applying and removin 0. This is to make the key in the form of a screw. A sharpthreaded screw of steel, with the groove or grooves d correspondingly rounded and threaded, may be inserted by turning, with a suitable key or screw-driver, with means for operating it rapidly, and will be certain to eut strongly into the opposite surface. I consider such form superior to the plain form represented, in the force with which it will hold, and inferior thereto in the amount of labor involved in its application and removal. It differs from my plain form represented in substantial and material points, but it may be held to be equivalent in law, and I esteem it worthy of mention as one of the plans by which the object of my invention may be attained.

I claim as my inventionl. The sharp edged key m, combined as shown, with the nut and bearing-surface, one of which is grooved and the other not grooved, so that after tightening the nut to its set position the sharp key will cut a score or mark in the opposite surface in a position corresponding to the groove,"'as herein set forth.

2. A plurality of grooves i-n either the nut or the adjacent surface, in combination with a sharp-edged key and with the opposite plane surface, so as to allow the key m to be changed from one to the other, as herein specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of April, 1872, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES It. WTATROUS.

Vitnesses:

STEPHEN VATnoUs, M. H. BACON. 

